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Broken heated bed cable  

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topherhunter@gmail.com
(@topherhuntergmail-com)
Eminent Member
Broken heated bed cable

After several hours of testing and investigation, I finally figured out that my heated bed cable has failed. There's a visible break in the ground wire insulation about 2cm from the bed end, and the positive lead feels like it may have an internal break in the strands. Both wires give intermittent continuity as I move them around, and the heater LED on the bed turns on/off as I move the cable.

It's simple 13ga wire so an easy fix, except I'm not convinced my soldering iron can handle the giant blob of solder on the bed end. Has anyone tried replacing this cable?

Posted : 24/09/2019 7:24 pm
rmm200
(@rmm200)
Noble Member
RE: Broken heated bed cable

Won't help you fix your problem, but it sounds like your cable broke from flexing.

You should have no flexing - at all - at the connector.

Textile sleeve should be firmly captured by the connector, and snugly wrapped around the cable. 

This avoids flexing at the connector. In use, the sleeve bends gently.

Posted : 24/09/2019 7:36 pm
topherhunter@gmail.com
(@topherhuntergmail-com)
Eminent Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Broken heated bed cable

@robert-rmm200

The textile sleeve was in place and I never noticed any strong bend in the cable during operation, but it must've been sneaky.

Posted : 24/09/2019 7:43 pm
cwbullet
(@cwbullet)
Member
RE: Broken heated bed cable

Is the printer in an enclosure?

--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog

Posted : 24/09/2019 8:18 pm
Nikolai
(@nikolai)
Noble Member
RE: Broken heated bed cable

Just make sure to replace the whole cable and not only part of it. 

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Posted : 24/09/2019 10:35 pm
Bunny Science
(@bunny-science)
Noble Member
RE: Broken heated bed cable

I used this wire to replace my heat bed cables. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D3N6722/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It has lots of strands and is better able to withstand the repeated motion than the stock wire.

BTW, please crimp new terminals, don't be tempted to solder new terminals when replacing your cable. Solder forms an abrupt transition from rigid to flexion. That is a recipe for early fatigue failure whereas a crimped connector is less prone.

Posted : 24/09/2019 11:45 pm
topherhunter@gmail.com
(@topherhuntergmail-com)
Eminent Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Broken heated bed cable

@guy-k2

My R2-A3, C1-10P, and BB-8 units are entirely kitted out with silicone sleeve wire. I have lots of spare lying around. 🙂

For all: I grabbed a 140W soldering iron and gave it a try. Just about when I was ready to give up, the blob melted and I was able to swap out the wires. All is good now.

Posted : 25/09/2019 1:19 pm
cwbullet
(@cwbullet)
Member
RE: Broken heated bed cable

What is a BB-8?

--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog

Posted : 25/09/2019 10:58 pm
Neophyl
(@neophyl)
Illustrious Member
RE: Broken heated bed cable

Its a star wars droid type.  All 3 things listed are star wars droids.

Posted : 25/09/2019 11:07 pm
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